Latch mechanism



Feb. 11, 1930. w. H, NEELY LATCH uscrumsu File'dpec. '7. 1925 Patented Feb. 1 1, 1930 UNITD STATES PATENT oFFlcE WILLIAM HAROLD NELY, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GRAHAM BROTHERS, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA LATCH MECHANISM Application led December This invention relates generally to latches for emergency doors and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a latch mechanism embodying my invention applied to an einergencydoor.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away and showing the cover in open position.

Figure 3 is an edge elevation of a portion of the latch mechanism with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the cover in closed position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge elevation of the latch mechanism showing the bolt retracted.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the latch bolt.

Referring now to the drawings, the numei-al l designates a latch casing mounted upon the inner side of an emergency door, preferably of a motor bus. Slidably mounted within this casing is a latch bolt 2 that is normally held in projected position by means of A a suitable spring 8 and that is adapted to be retracted by means of a hand operated lever 4. As shown, the bolt 2 is preferably provided intermediate its ends with an elongated slot 5 for receiving the spring 3 and is provided at its opposite side edges with the lateral shoulder 6 for limiting the forward sliding movement thereof. The lever 4 is ireferably pivoted between a pair of lugs 7 projecting laterally from the casing 1 and is provided beyond the pivot with a short rounded extension 8 that projects into a suitable slot 9 in the bolt 2. Thus, when the lever 4 is swung outwardly, the extension 8 will bear against the rear end wall 10 of the slot 9 and will cause the bolt 2 to be retracted against the tension of the spring 3. lhen the lever 4 is released, the spring 3 will automatically restore the parts to normal position. As shown, this lever 4 is preferably curved longitudinally from the pivot 11 to the free end 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,796.

thereof and is preferably provided adjacent to the pivot 11 with a lateral lug or shoulder 12 that is adapted to rest against the casing 1 when the lever 4 is in normal position. Thus,

it will be apparent that ample space is provided between the casing 1 and lever 4 when the latter is in normal position to receive the operators fingers so that the lever 4 may be grasped quickly when it is desired to retract the bolt.

Associated with the latch bolt 2 are two plungers 13 which are slidably mounted in suitable casings 14 at the top and bottom of the door and are normally held in projected position by means of coil springs 15 prefer- 65 ably sleeved upon the plungers 13 within the casings 14. As shown, these plungers 13 are preferably retracted simultaneously with the bolt 2 and for this purpose are connected to suitable rods or links 16 which in turn are 70 pivotally connected to rocker arms 17 pivoted upon opposite sides of the bolt 2 within the latch casing 1. To prevent undue friction and wear, these rocker arms 17 carry small rollers 18 which are engageable with the diverging 75 edge portions 19 of the bolt 2. Hence, when the bolt 2 is retracted, the rollers 18 will be moved laterally with respect to the bolt by means of the diverging or cam surfaces 19 and will cause the rocker arms 17 to pull the rods 8o 16 toward the lock casing 1. This will cause the plungers 13 to be retracted as the bolt is retracted.

lVith devices of the type described, it is de sirable to provide the operating lever 4 with 85 a protecting cover which will effectively prevent any accidental actuation of the lever. Moreover it is desirable to have some means for automatically notifying the driver of the bus,preferablybefore the lever can be reached, 00 when the cover is tampered with. With the present invention, this is accomplished by providing a dished cover 2O that is pivoted at its rear end between lugs 21 projecting laterally from the casing 1 and that is provided 95 at its rear end with a. cam portion 22 which is adapted to bear against a leaf spring 23 for actuating the plunger 24 of a suitable electric switch 25. Normally the cover 20 is held in closed position against the latch casing 1 by 100 means of a clip spring 26 that is secured to the inner face of the cover adjacent to the forward free end thereof and that is engageable with a suitable lug 27 projecting laterally from t-he casing l. 'Ihe leaf spring 23 is also jireferably secured to the outer side of the latch casing l and extends rearwardly between the lugs 2l, while the switch 25 is preferably carried by. a suitable bracket arm 28 that is secured to the inner `side of the latch casing l. Any suitable signaling device such as a bell or light may be in circuit with this switch to be controlled thereby and may be located at any point convenient to the driver.

Thus, with this construction, it will be apparent that the'cover 20 has to be swung out-v wardly before the latch mechanism can be actuated by theoperating lever 4. Normally the cam portion 22 of the cover is disengaged from the leaf spring 23, hence the latter is normally spaced from the plunger 24 of the switch 25, however when the cover 20 is swung outwardly the leaf spring 23 will be moved by the cam 22 against the plunger .24

to close the electric circuit to the signaling device adjacent to the driver. Hence, the signal will be given to the driver when the cover is tampered with before the operating lever 4 can be reached.

Vhile'it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantage of my invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a case for latch mechanism, ofl an electric switch adjacent to said case, a cover pivoted on the case, means normally holding the cover in lclosed position, and means adapted to be actuated by the cover when moved to open position for pressing said switch plunger. Y

said plunger to operate a switch, and actuat` ing means for said flexible part including a closure for said casing pivotally mounted on the case and having aportion engageable with said member. j

5. In combination,.a signal switch plunger, a spring metal strip fixed at one end and having its free flexible end engageable with said plunger, and7 a pivoted part having a cam adjacent to its pivot engageable with an intermediate part of said strip for moving the free end thereof into operative engagement with said plunger. y

6. In combination, a casing, an electric switch plunger adjacent to said casing, a member associated with said casing and engageable with said plunger to operate the same, and a closure for said casing normally closed to prevent access to the inside of lsaid casing and having means engageable with the member aforesaid when said closure is opened to actuate the same into operative engagement vwith said plunger.

7. In combination, a casin-g, an electric switch plunger adjacent to said casing, a member carried by said case and engageable with said plunger vto operate the same, and a pivoted closure for said casing normally closedV to prevent access thereto but having cam meansl engageable with the member aforesaid when said closure is opened to actuate the same into operative engagement with said plunger.v v 1 In testimony whereof I aiiix` my signature.

WILLIAM HAROLD NEELY.

2. The combination with a latch case, of A an'electric switch carried by the case, a cover for the case, means normally holding the cover'in closed position, and means also carried by the case adapted to be actuated by the cover when moved to open position for pressing a switch plunger.

3. In combination, a casing, an electric switch plunger adjacent thereto, a closure for said casing, and actuating means for said plunger including a part out of contact with the plunger when the closure is closed but adapted when the closure is opened to be moved and held thereby in operative contacting relation with said plunger.

4. In combination, a casing, a bracket arm secured thereto and projecting laterally therefrom, an electric switch plunger carried by said arm, a member secured to said casing and having a iexible part engageable with 

